The incorporation of high-frequency trading (HFT) in crypto markets has stirred a fascinating blend of excitement and skepticism. HFT is commonly deployed as a quantitative trading style, combining individual quantitative acumen with technical tools to profit from price discrepancies. Market makers in stocks and derivatives employ this technique, leveraging coding skills and technical ability to seize trading opportunities first. Since their inception, HFT techniques have been met with controversy. Critics argue that they provide an unfair advantage to institutions over individual traders and may cause rapid price crashes.
With the application of HFT within crypto markets, potential challenges are magnified. Despite the concerns, the union of technology and markets is undeniably intriguing. A conversation with Keone Hon, CEO of Monad Labs, sheds light on some important aspects of HFT in the crypto landscape. Monad Labs’ mission involves developing a proof of chain (PoS) blockchain for increased transaction throughput and compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Hon previously led a quantitative trading team at an HFT firm.
Hon highlights that part of HFT’s edge is due to the crypto market’s nascency. Since there are fewer participants than in traditional markets, price dislocations are more common, resulting in larger profits. However, as more participants join, these opportunities will become less frequent. HFT firms also serve as intermediaries between buyers and sellers, bridging time gaps and competing with other traders to deliver the tightest quotes. As Hon puts it, “At the end of the day, professional automated trading is providing a service, although it may not sound that way.”
Several strategies exist in HFT, with arbitrage being a well-known approach. Here, the trader leverages mispricings across different exchanges for profit. Other alpha-driven strategies are triggered by quantitative signals derived from order book data. Interestingly, success in HFT hinges on thoughtful execution, position management, and exchange evaluation. Since trading across exchanges involves maintaining inventory at those platforms, counterparty risk becomes an additional factor to consider, particularly for centralized exchanges. Consequently, there’s a growing need for decentralized exchanges to improve user experience and execution quality, closing the gap between centralized and decentralized exchanges.
Finally, when addressing the topic of regulation, Hon’s stance is noteworthy. He sees sensible regulation as beneficial, providing a clear framework within which participants can operate. This would involve ensuring exchanges follow the rules, proving reserves and assets they claim to possess. Clear guidelines, enforced impartially, would enable crypto players to operate effectively, efficiently, and swiftly.
Source: Coindesk
